Lunch & Learn Project Presents to you: “The Electric Power Grid” By: Dexter Hypolite Electrical Engineer VIWAPA

Introduction The electric power grid is an interconnecting network that supplies electricity to our homes, schools and industry. Electricity is used for light, heating, cooling, entertainment and even studying. The interconnecting network consist of generating stations that produce electrical power, high-voltage transmission lines that carry power from distant sources, and distribution lines that connect individual customers

Electric Grid Network

Generation ❖ Power plants is where electrical power begins ❖ Typical power plants contain steam generators or gas fired generator. ❖ Wind and Solar farms are also Power Stations

Typical Generation Demand Curve ❖ There are three types of curves to classify generation and loads. ❖ Integrating Megawatts (MW) yields Megawatts hours (MWh). ❖ Energy Usage is MWh.

Generation Demand Curve ❖ Consider the function : ❖ What type power station could this be? ❖ What is the maximum power that is generated (MW) and at what time? ❖ How much MWh is produced each day?

AC Power ❖ The power generated at these power stations stations are three phase AC power. ❖ Let’s understand this by taking a look at single phase AC power. In North America and the Virgin Islands period or frequency is 60 Hz or ms.

Three Phase AC Power ❖ In 3-Phase Power, there are 3 wires plus a neutral wire. ❖ Each live wire will be offset from each other by 120 degrees. ❖ You can single build a single phase circuit from a three phase system.

Transmission ❖ Transmission Lines are used to transfer large bulk power over long distances. ❖ There voltages are much higher than generation. ❖ At a generating plant, electric power is “stepped up” to several thousand volts by a transformer and delivered to the transmission line. At numerous substations on the transmission system, transformers step down the power to a lower voltage and deliver it to distribution lines

Distribution ❖ Distribution lines carry power to farms, homes and businesses. ❖ Once the power lines have reached the city, the first step in the distribution grid is to connect to the high voltage lines, and step-down to a lower voltage for distribution

Putting all together on paper Electric Grid One Line Diagram